Coin-controlled vending machine



May 19, 1931. F. 1.. MILLS 1,805,837

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 19, 1931. I F. L. MILLS 1,805,337

COIN CONTRQLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1928 4 ShGQtS-Shtit 2 [M67255 M 9m May 19, 193 L F. L. MILLS 1,805,837

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHI NE Filed July 12, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F MILLS COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE May 19, 1931.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 12, 1928 mama" M y 19, 1931 UNITED ram) L. margins;

com-courteous];

a licatio filed July 12;

This invention. relates to coin-controlled that type of machine in which a plurality s P s t I controlled stop mechanism, a device for pre- Qted lever 22 upper end ofpwhich is of rotatable reels are employe d in conjunction with vending mechanism and devices for delivering annular checks, or' other articles, from the machine,ihe operation of said devices being controlled by said reels.

The bbject of the invention is-to provide improved means whereby the rotation oi the reels may be manuall stopped through the exercise of skill, an the operation-of said devices thus rendered subject tothe skill of the operator.

The manual stop devices are independent of the usual mechanism for automatically arresting the rotation of the reelsand in the present machine, provision is made for rendering the operation of the/manual stop I kleviees compulsory, this being accomplished by so relating the manual and automatic, stop devices to the reels that the latter will be 'stopped in neutral, or ineffective, position upon operation of the automatic stopping devices, which, as will be understood, stop the reels only in the event of failure of the operator to stop them manually. In other words, the 'ositions at which the reels may be arrested y operationgof the manual stop devices are such as to permit operation of the" delivery devices, and the positions at which said reels are stopped by the automatic .stoyil mechanism (which stops the reels only in t e event they are not stopped by. the manual devices) are neutral positions which prevent the operation of said delivery devices.

A further object of the invention is. to rovide, in combination-with the manually venting operation of said mechanism until after predetermined rotation of the reels, so that the latter cannot be held in the same position during successive operations of the machines.

Other objects and advantages .of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the followin description, which, taken in connection wit the accom- 'rfzs PATENT- orrica OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MILLS NOVELTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS VENDING MACHINE 1928. serial No. 292,237. i

panying drawings, illustrates the preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the. drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation. of a machine in which my invention is embodied, the casing being removed and certain, parts bI'OkBI]. away for convenience in illustration;

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, taken from the ri htinFig.1;

ig.'3is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the sectionline 33 inFig. 1 and showing in side .elevation the device provided by my invention;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, illustrating two stages of the operation of said device, certain parts of the machine as shown in the preceding figures being omitted and others shown -d1agramat1cally in this view;

Fig. 5 is a like View, showing still another stage in the operation; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the clock arm and associated mechanism for controlling certain operations of the machine. The 'machine shown in the drawings as an illustrative embodiment of the invention is of the coin-controlled type and is adapted to be actuated by mechanism which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. A hand operated lever 11, mounted on the interior of the casing 12, is connected with a crank (not .shown) on the exterior of the casing, and is provided with a lug 13 adapted to engage a projection 14 on a lever 15, 'pivotally secured at 16 to a framepart 17, said lever being equipped with a laterally projecting lug 18 on the opposite side thereof from the rojection 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. he lug 18 normally enga es the upper part of a stop'lever 19, which as a pin and slot connection at 21 with an intermediately pivindicated at 29.

provided with a shoulder 32' just other end to a fixed point on the frame,'as

* Said stop lever 19 is curved outwardly from the point of normal engagement with the lug 18, as shown at 31in Fig. 2 and is beneath the'curved portion 31. Downward movement of the lever 15 produced by actuation of the crank on the outside of the casing permits the stop lever 19 to be drawn inshoulder 32 on the stop lever 19. The *inward movement of the lever 19 is accompanied by a pivotal movement of the lever 22, the pin 23 on said lever 22 being adapted to pass forwardly through the coin slot during this action. If there be. a coin in the slot, however, it obstructs the movement of said pin 23, holding the same and thelevers 22 and 19 in the position shown inFig. 2,

p and the lever 15 may then'be'moved downwardly, past the shoulder 32, which will be cleared since the lever 19 cannot move invThe lever 15 is connected wlth a link 33,, which has a slot 34 at the lower end thereof within whichis disposed a pin 35, which projects from the lever 15 andhas thereon a washer 36 serving to hold the slotted part. of the link 33 upon the pin 35, said pin. also carrying a 011 37, which is connected by springs 38 wit a plate 39 secured to an intermediate partofthe link 33,- thereby providing a yielding connection between the lever 15 and the link 33.

The upper-end of the link 33 is turned, as indicate at 41, and is connected with a lever 42, which has a rearwardly turned end part, disposed in the slot 24 and adapted when moved downwardly to engage the coin which rests upon a yiel able support-in the slot, downward movement of said lever 42- serving to force said coin throu h the slot.

A coin chute 43 is provi ed to receive the coinsand direct them to a suitable coin box (not shown), and the-machine is or maybe also equipped with a tube, or magazine, 44 for receiving annularchecks, if the machine is constructed for actuation by such checks, as may be theecase. The tube or magazine 44 leads to a series of delivery slides 45, which are controlled, in manner not specifically illustrated, by means of a series of actuating levers 46 adapted to actuate associated stop members 47, which normally hold the slides against the tension of springs 48, by which they are adapted to be actuated -when released, this construction being old and bClIlg illustrated, for example, in Patent No. 1,697,537.

If there be a coin in the slot when the machine is actuated, the. lever 15, as pre- .ing

aeoaeev viously stated, may be moved downwardl beyond the shoulder 32, and when so moved: an actuating pawl 49, carried upon a member 51, rigid with the lever 15, engages an arm 52, which is carried upon a rock shaft 53, which serves to actuate the various instrumentalities of the machine. Said rock shaft carries an arm 54, which is connected with an actuating pawl 55, which has a hook 56 at the upper end thereof adapted, when lifted by the rocking of the shaft 53 as just described, to engage teeth 57 on a series of disks 58, which are securedrespectively to concentric shafts, each of which carriesa reel 59, of which three are shown in the drawings, there being one of said reels and one of said disks 58 upon each shaft and the shafts being j'ournaled in the upright 17 and an u right 61. i a

A ter being rocked by means of the actuating pawl 49, the rockshaft 53 and the actuating members carried thereby, are

adapted tobe returned to normal position by springmeans, to be presently described, the return movement being through a quick snap action, which causes the pawl 55 to exert a quick jerk upon the disks 58, thereby startingv the same and the reels 59 to rotating. r

The rock shaft 53 also carries an actuatcam-62, which, when raised by rotation of the rock shaft, is adapted to engage lips 63 upon laterally projecting arms 64 of automatic stop members 65 (see Fig. 3), of which one is provided for veach reel 59; Springs '66, having their opposite arms connected respectively to the member 62. and to fixed points in the lower part of the frame;

tend to draw said member62 downwardly,

" is no the star wheel 69, which is fixed to -one of, the reels 59. 'A spring 71, connected at its upper end to a projection 72 on the arm 64 and at its lower end to a rod 73, tendsto hold said stop member in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the stop lug-68- in engage-Z ment with the star wheel, thus holding the reel stationary.

Upon actuation of the rock shaft, the

member 62, acting upon the lip 63 of the arm' 64 of the stop member 65, causes the latter to turn on its pivot to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4. At the same time, a clock arm 74, which is horizontally disposed in the lower art' of the machine and pivoted at 7 5 tea xed framepar't 76, is i moved toward the right,lviewing Figs' 3, 4,

and 5, and is thus positioned. beneath an 13,0

angular end part 77 at the lower end of the a horizontally pivoted lever 81, which is connected by an offset link 82 with saidclock arm 74. After being moved forwardly to in a floor piece 91.

part 99 of said tion, viewing, for example, Fi 4,

the dotted line position shown in- Fig. .6, said arm is slowly turned to the full line 0- sition shown in said figure by means 0 a spring 83,'which.is connected at one end to a hook 84 on said arm and at the opposite end to a lug 85 on the framepart 76, the ,return movement being governed by means of a clock mechanism. (not shown), the gearing of which is disposed within ahous1ng 86.

The link 82 is plvotally connected at 87 to said clock arm or bar 74, and said bar has a guide lug 88, extending forwardly therefrom and turned downwardly, the lower part thereof being disposed within a slot 89 There are also two other forwardly extending lugs 92 and 93 on said clock arm adapted, respectively, ,to be engaged by the portions 77 of the stop members 65, the construction and operation of the clock arm being such as to cause the sto member at the left of Fig. 6 to'first drop 08 said arm, thus permitting the stop member to be thrown into engagement with the star wheel 69 by means of the spring 71, the middle stop member being next released for like action, which is followed by the release of the third stop member, so that the reels, be-

ginning with the one at the left in Fig. 1, are

successively stopped automatically if they are not first manually stopped by means of manually operated stop mechanism, which will next be described. 7

A second stop lever 94. (see Fig. 3) is pivoted'at 95 to a framepart 96 and is pro vided with a head or stop lug 97, which is urged toward the star wheel 69 by means of a spring 98, connected at one end to a tail lever 94 and at the opposite end to a flange 101011 the outer end of an arm 102 on the bracket 96 Saidlever 94 has a.downwardly projecting part 103 beneath the pivot 95, which part is connected by means of a link 104 with an arm 105 rigidv with the rock shaft 53, whereby rotation of the rock shaft in counter-clockwise direcwill cause said stop lever 94 to bemove to the dotted line position shown in said Fig.4. Said lever 94'has ,allug 106 projecting laterally therefrom and this lug is adapted to be engaged by a latch member 107, which is pivoted at 108 to the framepart 96 and is adapted to be urged toward the ,right, as shown in the drawings, by means of a spring 109, connected at one end to an arm 111 integral with the latch member 107' and conmember The latch member 107 is also integral with, or rigid with'a ,member 112 extending upwardly from the pivot 108 and ha ing a flat top part" 113 adapted to be eng ed by a plunger 114 extending through the casing 115' and'having a head or button 116 disposed above the top of the casing, said plunger being adapted to be normally held in the raised position as shown in Fig. 3 by means of a spring 117. disposed within a housing 118 in the casin and compressed between aflange 119 of t e button 116. andv the base 1210f the housing 118. A pin 122, 7

carried by the plunger 114, limits the upward movement of the latter. It will be understood, of course, that there is one of these plungers for each of'the reels and that .the manual stop mechanism is duplicated for each ree The parts having moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig.4, the latch member. 107 bears against the lug 106 on the stop lever 94, the point of engagement being beneath a shoulder 123 on saidlatch member 107. 'When the rock shaft 53 returns to the normal position shown in full lines in Fig.

4, the stople'ver 94 moves upwardly to the full line position shown in said figure, be

ing urged in tliisdirection by the spring 98 and. being retained in this position by en gagement" of the lug 106- withthe shoulder 123 and also by engagement of said lug with a shoulder 124 on a member 125 carried by the pivot 108 and having its lower end connected by alink 126 with the automatic stop 65. Movement of the clock arm 74 toward the left (viewing Fig. 4) begins immediately after 'release of the actuating mechanism, and when the retrograde movement has continued sufliciently to cause. a

lug 127 to drop off said arm 74, as shown in the full lineposition in said Fig. 4, the stop,

member 65 moves under the action of the spring 71 to the full line position shown in said .figure, thus disengaging the member 125 from the lug 106 '-1through the instrumentality of the linkr126.}

The latch member 107 1 is adapted to bedisen aged from the lug 106. through manual epression of the plunger 114, which moves said latch member to the left against the. tension of the spring 109. The stop lever 94 bein thus released snaps into locking position t rough the'action of the spring 98, the stop lug 97 entering between the teeth of the star wheel 69. In case. the

plunger 114 be actuated to relea se the latch nected at the opposite end to the bracket 96. Fig. 5, the stop member :94 will snap into have been.

locking position through the action of the spring 98, as above stated, the parts then assuming the relation shown in said Fig. 5. 'In case the manual stop is not operated, the reels will be stopped by the automatic stop, in which event the parts will assume the relation shown in Fig. 3. The next actuation of the rock shaft 53 will carry the stop lever 94 down to .the dotted line position of Fig. 4, the latches 107 and 125 being at the same time moved to the position shown in said Fig. 4, in which position both latches engage the In 106 upon the initial upward movement 0 the lever 94, holding said lever with the sto lug 97 thereon out of engagement with t e star wheel until said latches are released, in manner previousl described.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will e observed that each reel 59 containsa series of symbols, or legends 128, which are adapted to be displayed through a window 129 (shown in Fig. 3), the symbols on different reels being adapted to be presented in various 7 combinations through said window. The

*' symbols in the machine of my invention are spaced sufliciently so that blank spaces are presented to the-window when the reel is stopped by the automatic stop member 65, the symbols being displayed. only when the reel is stopped bythe manual stop member .94. Inasmuch as the position of the reels, 59' and the disks 58, which are provided with openings 131 cooperating with the levers 46, controls the operation of the delivery mechanism 45, the latter may thus be prevented from operating except when the reels are of thecasing, the lever 15 (Fi 2) willbe stopped in position with the symbols displayed through the window 129, which, as ust stated, can be accomplished only through operation of the manual sto device. In this manner the use of sai device is. rendered compulsory and the outcome of the operation of the machine is therefore rendered necessarily subject to the skill of the operator,'who, by watching the s mbols on the reels, may, throughthe exerelse of skill, stop said reels so that desired combinations" of symbols may be presented at the window and corresponding operations of the machine produced.

The operation of the machine will be understood from the foregoing description and may be briefly stated as follows:

Upon insertion of a coin in the coin slot 25 and actuation. of the crank on the exterior moved downwardly," the shoul er 32 of the lever 19 being held out of the. path of the lug 18 on the lever 15 by means of the coin in the slot, as has previously been described. This downward movement of the lever 15 gage the arm 52 on the rock shaft 53, rota 59 and serving also to move the automatic stop lever and the manual stop lever 94 out of engagement with the star wheel 69,

the actuation of the automatic stop lever link 104. This actuation of the stop levers is accompanied by movement of the latches 107 and 125 into position to be engaged by the lug 106 on the stop lever 94 when'the latter is released. At the same time, the clock arm 74 is advanced by means of the actuating arm 78 (Fig. 3) on the rock shaft 53 and begins to slowly recede under the influence of the spring 83 and the control of the governor or clock mechanism contained within the housing 86. As soon as said clock arm has receded sufiiciently to ermit the ug' 127, which, as shown, is ormed on t e member 132 adjustably secured to the portion 77 of the member 65 as indicated at 133, to drop of]? the offset arm, as shown in Fig. 4,-the latch 125 is disengaged automatically from the lug 106. It

snap into locking position. The manual operation may be repeated to stop the other reels whenever the associated latch 125 has been released throu h the movement of the clock arm 74, it being understood that-the lugs 127 on the second and third stop members successively drop oil the clock arm lugs armbefore the sto engagement with t e star wheel, since sufli- ,cient pivotal movement of the stop levers 65 92 and 93, respectively, thus permitting theoperation of the manual stop lever 94 when released by the manually operated latch 107. The lugs 127 .on the stop members 65 are at an intermediate point, 'and it is therefore some time after said lugs drop off the clock member 1s released for "to cause the stop lug 68 toengage the star tion of said. shaft serving to actuate the Q pawl 55 to rotate the disks 58 and the reels wheel is not possible until the clock arm has passed entirel beyond the portion 77- of said stop mem ers.

The reels having been stopped by either the automatic or manual stop members, both said members will be returned to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 upon the next actuation of the machine and the operations just described will be repeated.

It'is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be 'understood from the foregoing description, I and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without eparting from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the

form hereinbefore described being merelya preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: I

1. A machine comprising a plurality. of

rotatable reels, dispensing mechanism con-' trolled by said reels,'means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for stop-v ping the rotation of said reels, and manually operable devices whereby the reels'ma'y be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop memberon the reel, a spring-projected stop lever, a'latch normally holding said lever out of action, and a member adapted to be actuated by the operator for releasing said latch.

2. A machine comprising a' lurality of rotatable reels, dispensing mec anism controlled by said reels, means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for stopping the rotation of said reels, and manually operable devices whereby the reels may be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop member on the reel, a spring-projected stop lever movable into engagement with said member, a latch normally holding said lever out of action, a

member adapted to be actuated by the operator for releasing said latch, and a second latch adapted to engage said lever during the initial operation of the machine and to be automatically disengaged therefrom after predetermined rotation of: the reels.

3. A machine comprising a plurality of rotatable reels, dispensing mechanism controlled by said reels, means for'setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for sto ping the rotation of said reels, and manual y I operable devices whereby the reels may be,

' spring-projected stop lever stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop member on. the reel, a spring-pro'ected stop lever, a latch normally holding said lever out of action, and a member adapted to be actuated by the operator for releasing said latch, said automatic and:

manual stop devices being adapted to stop' said'reels in neutral-and operative positio'ns respectively. L

4. A machine comprising a lurality of rotatable reels, dispensing -mec anism controlled by said reels, means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for sto ping the rotation of said reels, and manual y operable devices whereby the reels may be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop member on the reel, a'

movable into engagement with said member, means operable 7 through, actuation of the machine for withdrawing said-stop lever from engagement with said member, a latch adapted to engage said lever when the latter is so withdrawn, and a manually operable member operatively connected with said latch'and adaptedwhen actuated to disengage said l'atc'h from said lever to permit the latter to be spring-pro- 'ecteddnto engagement with the stop memer on the reel. to thereby stop the rotation of the latter.

5. A machine comprising a plurality of rotatable reels, dispensing mechanism controlled'by said reels, means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for sto ping the rotation ofsaid reels, and manual y operable devices wherebythe reels may be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprislng a stop member on the reel, a stop. lever forming a part of said automatic stop device, a stop lever forming a part of said manual stop device, means operable upon actuation of the machine for removing both said stop levers from said stop member, means for engaging said manual stop lever and holding the same out of action against 1plurality of stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devlces comprising a stop member on the reel,' a stop lever forming a part of said automatic stop device, said ,manual stop device,

both said stop levers rom said stop member, means for engaging said manual stop lever and holding the same out of actlon against the tension of its spring, a clock arm apted to hold said automatic stop) lever out of engagement with the stoprmem er for a redetermined period 'of time during which the manual stop devices may be actuated, said automatic stop lever having a preliminary movement prior to bein re-' leased for-stopping the reel, means su jectto the control of the operator for causin operation of said manual stop devices, an

a member connected with said automatic stop lever and adapted to hold said manual stop lever out of action until said preliminary movement of said automatic stoplever.

anism conreels, and manually operable devices-whereby the reels may be a stop lever forming a partvof means operable upon actuation of the machine for removing 7. A machine comprising a lurality of rotatable reels, dispensing mecl ianism controlled by said reels, means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for stopping the rotationof said reels, and manually operable devices whereby the reels may be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop member on the reel, a

10 pivoted stop lever, means. for projecting said lever into engagement with said stop mem- I 'ber, means for withdrawing ,said lever from engagement with said member uponinitial actuationof the machine, a latch member adapted to engage said lever when so withdrawn, a spring connected with said latch member for urging the same into engaging position, and devices subject to thecontrol' of the operator for releasing said latch to permit said stop lever to move into engagement with said stop member on the rec i 8. A machine comprising a plurality of rotatable reels, dispensing mechanism controlled by said reels, means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for stopping the rotation of said reels, and manually operable devices whereby the reels may be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means, said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop member on the reel, a

pivoted stop lever, means for projecting said lever into engagement with said stop member, means for withdrawingsaid lever from engagement with said member upon initial actuation of the machine, a latch member adapted to-engage said lever when so withdrawn, a spring connected with said latch member for urging the same into engaging position, devices, subject to the control of the operator for releasing said latch to permit said stop lever to move into en-v gagement with said sto member on the reel,

and a'supplementary atch'member moved 1 into engagement with said stop lever during the initial operation of the machine and automaticall moved, out of engagement therewith a ter predetermined rotation of the reels. i I I 9. A machine comprising a plurality of rotatablereels, dispensing mechanism controlled by saidreels, means for setting said reels in motion, automatic devices for step ing the rotation of said reels, and manualy operable devices whereby the reels may be stopped independently of said automatic stopping means,said last-mentioned devices comprising a stop member on the reel, a spring-projected stop lever,'a latch normally holding said lever out'of action, anda member adapted to be actuated by the operator for releasing said latch, said stop devlces being duplicated for each ofsaid reels.

In witness whereof, I hereunto snbscribe my name to this specificatiorf.

FRED L. MILLS. 

